Coco Gauff was unable to complete her third round match at Indian Wells against Alexandra Eala.
Gauff comfortably beat Eala when they played recently at the Dubai Tennis Championships, but it was a very different situation at Indian Wells.
It was clear from the early stages of the match that Gauff was not quite right physically, and after going a set and a break down against Eala she could no longer continue.
After having some time since stepping off court, Gauff has released a statement on social media to provide an update on her injury.
Coco Gauff provides injury update after retiring against Alexandra Eala
During the match, Gauff received medical treatment to her arm and she confirmed that this was what was troubling her when speaking to media after leaving the court.
Gauff revealed that it felt like her whole arm ‘was on fire’, before admitting that she had never felt anything like this before.
“Yeah, I felt it, like, the second game of the first set,” said Gauff. “I guess a simple way to put it, it felt like a firework was going off inside of my arm, and then my whole arm felt like it was on fire.
“Yeah, we’re going to figure out what it is tomorrow, but based off the feeling, being told that it’s probably something nerve-related. Never had anything like this before, never felt anything, a sensation like this before.
“And then as the match played, it got progressively worse, even when I wasn’t using my arm on shots that I wasn’t even using my left arm for. It was feeling like fireworks at times. Yeah, it was a scary feeling, but yeah, I don’t know.”
Prove us wrong…
Gauff then took to social media to thank her fans for the messages of support she had received, and explained that she would be getting a MRI scan the following day.
She also sent a message to Eala, who she wished well for the remainder of her time in Indian Wells.
Gauff wrote on Instagram, “I’m sorry it had to end this way IW :(( see you next year,” followed by a statement.
“Hey everyone thanks for the sweet messages. I felt a weird pain in my left arm in the second game of the match, I tried to continue but it was getting more intense.
“As most of you know I rarely have to end matches with a retirement but because it was an unfamiliar pain I decided it was best to not continue. Never felt anything like this before, going to get an MRI tomorrow to see what’s up but I’ll be okay.
“Good luck to Alex the rest of the way, always a pleasure sharing the court with you!”
Where will Coco Gauff be ranked at the end of the 2026 season?
When was the last time Coco Gauff retired from a match?
It is a rare sight to see Gauff leave the court without finishing the match, so much so that it is only the second time that this has happened in her professional career.
The only other occasion where Gauff was unable to complete her match was at the Cincinnati Open in 2022.
Gauff rolled her ankle in her first round match against Marie Bouzkova that year, and was therefore forced to retire from the match.
It is unclear as to how severe this current injury is, but Gauff’s upcoming scans will confirm whether she can compete at the Miami Open.
The Miami Open gets underway in just over a week’s time, with Gauff not having long to recover from her arm injury.
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